It’s finally February, the month of love, love and more love. If you’re anything like me you’ve come to a point, where you want to be wowed with an over-the-top present, that’ll send your social media followers into an “ooh and ahh” frenzy. So let’s face it, drugstore chocolates are pretty much a cliché, flowers wilt pretty fast, balloons deflate in no time and stuffed animals eventually got tossed to the side. While super sweet and with the greatest of intentions, those gifts are definitely not revolutionary. I mean they’re cute, but why not gift something that lets love sparkle. Trust me! Everyone globally is secretly screaming “Valentine, please note that jewelry & accessories are truly the key to my heart.”

Now that I’ve revealed our secret, I’ve gone ahead a created a gifting solution by putting together a Valentine’s Day Gift Guide of glimmer and gleam for men, women and children. Hey! why not celebrate love with something that makes a big impact with a shelf life longer than a week. Likewise, we all know the best statements are made through the expression of jewelry. Anywho! be sure to take my foolish advice and leave this blog open, there’s nothing wrong with being conspicuous, so you can get your sparkle on.

Left to Right – Rihanna, Michelle Obama and Viola Davis all wearing stunning pearl jewelry.

Pearls are a true classic and have played a dazzling role in high fashion for decades. Pearls are magnificently beautiful and can be both inexpensive and incredibly bank-breaking (depending on the quality of course!). The least expensive pearl is man-made, while the freshwater takes second place and then, there’s the saltwater which comes in different colors and textures from around the World, therefore, price varies.

Nevertheless, pearls aren’t limited to sweet sixteen gifts or something you find at the bottom of grandma’s jewelry box anymore. In fact, the classic pearl has come out of its shell and recurs each year in more vibrant and luxurious styles. Choices range from simple to statement worthy and you’re sure to make heads turn while wearing them.

I can’t believe it’s our 2nd Anniversary already. It feels like yesterday when we 1st launched our website www.madisongems.com to the entire World. Throughout the past two years, we’ve had the opportunity and privilege to work with so many wonderful people likewise small businesses, but most of all we’ve made many new friends and trusted alliances.

Our two-year gem-adventure has been nothing short of extraordinary because at Madison Gems we don’t just retail jewelry & accessories; we believe the perfect accessory has the power to make you feel great about yourself all the time. In this fashion, we’re a boutique where you can celebrate your unique style one accessory or two or three at a time lol.

At Madison Gems jewelry and accessories aren’t just tangible ornaments, they’re gems that make people admire and appreciate their appearance; they help to exude a sense of pride and enrich lives daily. Hence, Madison Gems is synonymous with luxury and joy. Therefore, you will undoubtedly always find that perfect piece you’ve been looking for and discover new trinkets and treasures to treat yourself and your loved ones.

Over the past two years we’ve grown tremendously, we purvey trendy men’s, women’s, children and wedding/bridal jewelry & accessories. As well, we even acquired jewelry from our CEO’s birthplace Nigeria, in addition to opulent Farasha kaftans from the Far East. Therefore, providing you the best quality and value so you can shop with peace of mind is our #1 staple. On top, we’ll always aspire to have the perfect pieces to help you look your best and to compliment your big days as well as your every day ensembles.

In the past two years Madison Gems achieved several milestones:

Madison Gems has been featured in a few blog publications

Our ads were featured in two online magazines

We helped raise funds for an elementary school in Ghana

We’ve sponsored several small businesses events

We jewelry styled our 1st Art Deco Themed Wedding Photo Shoot

We spoke to High School Seniors about accessorizing for Prom

We donated jewelry to High School seniors for their Prom

A celebrity wore our jewelry

We attended our 1st accessories trade show

Madison Gems was a vendor for the 1st time

We’ve donated to non-profit organizations with causes dear to us

We accessorized our 1st Bride

We accessorized our 1st Bridal Party

We were retained for our 1st Bridal Party Gift order

We instructed our 1st Accessorizing 101 class

We sponsored several events to feed the homeless

We donated jewelry to the homeless for job interviews

We accessorized our 1st pageant contestant (and she won!)

At Madison Gems our philosophy is centered on the belief that clients should be treated like royalty. Thus, we endeavor to express our deepest appreciation in every package we ship. We call it the Madison Gems experience; hence, our complimentary gift-wrapping, personalized handwritten thank you cards from the CEO herself and stellar customer service.

Ergo, Madison Gems has sustained itself because of our magnificent clientele and we thank you dearly for the trust and confidence you’ve placed in us. In a World full of so many choices, our clients choose us time and time again and we assure you that we don’t take your trust for granted.

As we continue to garner a stronger relationship with you, we fully recognize that your support and the continued trust that you place in us is the foundation of our success. You are at the center of everything we do and we will work tirelessly towards ensuring that we meet and exceed your expectations in a fair, professional and luxurious way.

We’re now embarking on our journey to year three… then four, then five, and so on. Withal, this business is truly a gift, a creative blessing, and an experience beyond our words. We’re uber excited for the growth leading up to year three. So please make sure you subscribe to this blog and follow us on our social media channels, as great new things will arise from us in year three. Thank you to all who have made this possible. Thank you for this gem-tastic adventure, for the endless possibilities of growth and for your loyalty to Madison Gems. We look forward to continuosly serving you and exceeding your expectations. Let’s toast to two wonderful years. Clink Clink!

Happy Birthday/Happy Anniversary to us!

Pic from Pinterest

“My favorite thing about running Madison Gems is the sense of accomplishment that I feel once a clients life has been impacted. There’s an added boost of confidence they receive by accessorizing their wardrobes with my merchandise.” -Ify Onwualu

Rings should essentially flatter your fingers, be it long, short, slender or wide. In addition, when wearing rings you must consider your typical nail length and shape, i.e. are they usually trimmed short or long or manicured and shaped? FYI: Longer nails usually lengthen the appearance of your fingers. As well, narrow rings or styles that extend toward your knuckles make your fingers appear long and sleek. For that reason, stacking rings is the hottest trend right now, as it’s the perfect finger party and form of expression. Nevertheless, the only rule to ring stacking is balance; so make sure you pay attention to your feng shui and maintain negative space (the space around or between a ring) when stacking.

Photo courtesy of Pinterest

Today it’s all about stacking & layering your jewelry and the ultimate goal is to achieve a one-of-a-kind look. When it comes to stacking rings you can stack multiple rings on one finger or you can stack rings across many fingers. Therefore, putting on 7 rings at once is no longer taboo and has become a unique fashion art form. Accordingly, the most important aspect of stacking is that your stack should feel personal to YOU.

Photo courtesy of Pinterest

When stacking rings, try experimenting with different metals, stones, textures or colors. This will definitely add a je ne sais quoi to your overall look. So whether it’s silver, gold, rose gold, or copper; you no longer have to perfectly match your pieces. By mixing a few different metal rings, your fingers will look instantly dressier. In addition, mixing older pieces with modern or dainty pieces will have everyone addressing you as Ms. jewel-nista (lol). Also, don’t be afraid to add a pop of color; mixing colorful pieces is a great way to highlight your ensemble. Therefore, it’s not necessary to match your rings with your outfit as contrasting colors makes your look chic and glam.

Photo courtesy of Pinterest

The Anatomy of a Stack

On your index finger wear a cocktail ring or heirloom ring that stands out on it’s own, making it the focal point of your hand. Then the middle finger is where you would place your power stack, these are stackable rings that create cohesion. Hence, this is the finger where you can do your heavy layering. On the ring finger, you would wear a geometric ring or something unique and daring. As well, on the first knuckle of the ring finger you can wear a midi ring. This ring enhances the texture and the depth of the stack. Then finally on the pinky finger you would wear another midi ring but something simple (Remember that negative space I mentioned earlier!).

Photo courtesy of Pinterest

On the other hand, you can just do a one-finger stack, where you wear 4 or 5 similar thin rings, 2 different sized rings, or various size rings, depending on how ambitious you are, of course!. There’s even an adorable wedding ring stack where you can have your engagement ring, wedding ring and a ring for each child. This type of stack makes a beautiful statement about marriage and the the unity of family.

Photo courtesy of Colin Cowie Weddings

since minimalist jewelry is reigning supreme you can also just wear thin rings above each knuckle or one on your index finger and the other on your ring finger.

Photo courtesy of Pinterest

Finally, another way to make a statement with stackable rings is to purchase pre-arranged stacks from www.madisongems.com. These rings come in varying shapes and sizes and you don’t have to worry about designing your own stack. These rings look great stacked together or worn alone; but either way your look will be magnificent. What does your ring dream ring stack look like? Tell us in the comments below.

With Halloween around the corner and the holiday season rapidly approaching, an overflow of masquerade ball invitations will be headed your way via first class mail.

A masquerade ball is a soirée that requires attendees to wear a mask and costume. It’s a celebration that evokes a sense of excitement, mystery and opulence, giving your guests the opportunity to not only be creative with their attire, but to socialize more freely, as they are in disguise. Ergo, These social gatherings date back to the 15th Century, where elaborate and decadent celebrations of marriage, dances and pageants were held only for the upper class.

Conversely, the concept of the masquerade ball has changed considerably throughout the centuries; it’s still a party that requires attendees to wear masks and costumes. However, it’s not a secretive event meant solely for the elite. Oftentimes, they’re typically black-tie affairs for just about any occasion. (i.e. Halloween, Christmas, New Years, birthdays, weddings, valentine’s day, proms, charity events or just because).

Accordingly, when it comes to choosing a masquerade mask there are three main factors that play into deciding what to wear to an event; it depends on the occasion, your outfit, and the image you want to convey. For a general masquerade party, any type of mask goes. Whether you have on a LBD, a costume, or denim, the Ornate Feather Half Mask from www.madisongems.com will be the perfect pairing with your ensemble.

Ornate Feather Half Mask $20

On the other hand, if you’re attending a fancy schmancy, aristocrtic affair, that requires an elaborate evening gown or a super glamorous dress, then you need to step up your game ten-fold. Undoubtedly, you must go with a majestic, stately mask, such as the Crystal Masquerade Mask, which comes in four different styles at www.madisongems.com.